CASTING

CASTING, (abattre, Fr.) in navigation, the motion of falling off, so as to bring the direction of the wind on either side of the ship after it had blown for some time right a-head.

This term is particularly applied to a ship when her anchor first loosens from the ground, when she is about to depart from any place where the had anchored; and as the had probably rested at anchor with her head to windward, it is plain she must turn it off, so as to fill the sails before she can advance in her course, which operation is called casting. Hence she is said to cast the right way, or the wrong way. See TRIM.